System of electrically setting the sights of guns.



A H. WEGNER. SYSTEM OF ELECTR ICALLY SETTING THE SIGHTS 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAYZ. l9l2.

Patented June 27, 1916.

ISHEETS-SHEET I- A. H. WEGNER. SYSTEM OF ELECTRTCALLY SETTING THE SIGHTS0F GUNS Patented June 27, 1916.

- APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. 1912. 1 189213.

7 SHEE TSSHEET 2- wi li'neooeo A. 'H. WEGNER, SYSTEM OF ELE CTRICALLYSETT ING THE SIGHTS 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, I912.

1 1 89,21 3 A Patmed J 11119 2?, 1916.-

FSHEETS-SHEET 3- A. H. WEGNER.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICAL LY SETTING THE SIGHTS OF GUNS. APPLICATION FILEDMAY 2. 1912.

1 1 89,2 1 3. Patented J fine 27, 1916.

YSHEETS-SHEET 4-.

. Q QFQ A. H. WEGNER. SYSTEM OF ELECTBICALLY SETTING THE SIGHTS 0F GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. I912- L189,213. Patented June 27, 1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5- A. H. WEGNER. .SYSTEM OF ELECTRICALLY smme THE SIGHTS0F Guns N APPLICATION FILED MAY 2. I912. 1,189,213, Patented June 27,1916.

7 SHEETS-SHEET 6- 4 woe/wtoz (iZWe n r J03 W4 m1:

A. H. WEGNER.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICALLY. SETTING THE SIGHTS OF'GUNS. APPLIICATION FILEDMAY 2, 1912.

1 ,1 89,213 Patented J 11116 27, 1916 7 SHEETS-SHEET 7- I J Z 7 say. 70.

pwwy 5M Wk warren snares rairarrr carton;

ARTHUR H. WEGNER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT COLUMBIA, ASSIGN'OIR TO WEGNERCONTROL SYSTEM, INCORPORATED, PORTSMOUTH, NEW -HAM]?-' SHIRE.

SYSTEM OF ELECTRICALLY SETTING THE SIGHTS 0F GUfi S.

invented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of ElectricallySetting the Sights of Guns; and I do hereby de- "clare the following tobe a full, clear, and

exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art towhich it appertains to make and use the same;

This invention relates generally to a system of electrically controllingthe firing of guns, but more particularly to setting the sights of guns,especially guns of heavy caliber, wherein the movements such aselevation and lowering the sights, and right and left deflection may betransmitted from akey-board to the sights of a number of guns inparallel, and it consists chiefly of the novel arrangement of certainelectrical provide means for automatically indicating devices andcircuits, whereby the. ascertained range or change of range, and theazimuth movements may be-transmitted to the sight of a number of guns,hencethe, I g

- -cally ,i forms no; part of my "invention;

' Referring-'1 first to Fig. 2 I have shown" chief object of theinvention is to provide a system by means of which the sightsof-i a gunor a number of guns in parallel, may be set by electrical means. I 4

Still another ob ect of the invention is to that the ascertained rangebeen transmitted, and the range at which the gun or guns was or werelast fixed, as the casemay be.

Other objects of the invention Wlll become apparent upon the completedescrip-' tion of the same.

control added thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 2 isa side eleva-- tion, of enough of a gun to illustrate where myimprovements, hereinafter described, are applied. In Flgs. 1 and Qnoattempt is made to show my improvements in the Fig. 3 is'a diagrammaticview of circuits and electrical devices for operating my improvedazimuth drum,

range controller.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27,1916.

Application filed May 2, 1912. Serial No. 694,687.

. the drum being shown flattened out. Fig. H. WneNnn,

the control of the range. Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of my electricsight setting system in which the sights of on'e 01" more guns of agroup of four, or the entire group, may be electrically controlled orop.--

erated, showing that portion of the. system relating to the controlofthe range. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one, of the range controllersemployed for electrically controlling the setting of the ascertainedrange .to each gun of the group. Fig. 8 is an edge view of the same,partly in "section. Fig. 9 is a central section, taken longitu-..

dinally through .the finger control board.

Fig. 10 is a section on line y z of Fig; 7

showing the alternating contact surfaces and insulating spaces "in theouter ring.

Fig. 11 is a detail sideelevation of one of.

the key armatures shown in- Fig. 3 and cooperating .switch relay-,--which, specifia portion of the breech and carriage of'animprovements.The gun I is supported by the carriage 2 on trunnions 3. The usual:-sight bar .99 carrying a telescopic sight, 99 is pivotally supported at9, and has' the usual. rack bar 164 which is engaged/by. a;

pinion carried by the-range dial shaft 162 which may be operated by theusual hand wheel 159. -'My improvements,- as will be described, providefor operating .the shaft 162 by power from motor 1:08Thaving its shaft4: provided with a worm 5 engaging worm wheel 6 carried by shaft .7. Theshaft 7 also hasa worm 8 engaginggworm wheel" 10 on the shaft 11. Thehand wheel 159 referred to is also carried by the shaft 11 It is tobeunderstood that in practice,'wit h the construction so: far described,having the shaft 11 adaptedto be rotated byahand as well: as by -power',it will be necessarywto ation to 'be performed. ,forms no. part of myinvention, and is neither lllustrated nor claimed hereln.

provide a suitable clutch to disengage some members, such as the worm 8from worm wheel 10,- in order to enable hand oper- Such however,

in place the hand wheel is not to be used (unless such a clutch asmentioned is employed) and may therefore be discarded.

. The pinion, liereinbefore referred to as.

carried by shaft 162-, is indicated at 164 in Fig. 1. The shaft 162 alsohas a worm wheel 161 engaged by worni carriedby shaft 11. By theseconnections, the elevation o'r depressionof the sight bar and sight maybe effected by the motor 108 when the latter is in operation by themeans hereinafter described.

The range dial 158 shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 2, is the ordinary dial nowin use, being mounted onthe usual shaft 162 and provided with the usualgraduated rangemarks, and mounted on said shaft at any convenient point,preferably in the rear of the range-dial 158 is my improvedrangecontroller165,;constructed of a number of concentrically-arrangedmetallic rings (Fi 7) each of which,.except the inner'ring 167, whichserves as a ,commonnegative contact, is provided with alternatelyarranged insulated areas 168 and-metal contact areas 169 re resentingrange divisions. This range co dtioller is, of, course, electricallyiso-- lated by any suitably arranged insulation not necessary toillustrate in Figs. 1 and 2 (see Figs. 7 and 9). Beginning at zero mark(170) the divisions of the first two rings represent fifty yards each;those of the next two rings representing one-hundred yards each, eachpair thereafter increasing one hundred yards until the fivehundred yardrings are reached, when the divisions of the next pair of rings areincreased to one thousand yards each, and thereafter each ring isincreased one thousand yards, the last ring representing eighteenthousand yards. The .qraduations of these rings correspond with thegraduated marks on the dial 158, and

keep in step therewith, so that a range, which has been transmitted froma conningtower or other fixed station, will be indicated on both therange-dial and the rangecontroller 165.

The range-controller is provided on its rear face with a hub 171. in thebore of which is seated a flanged bushing 172 of suitable insulatingmaterial, so as to insulate the range-controller from its shaft 162. Therange-controller near its contact face is provided with'a finger-board179 of hard rub-.

ber seated in, and secured to a suitable base 180 by any suitable means,not shown. The finger-board, the location of which is indicated bydotted lines inFig. 2, is provided with a central line of perforations(Figs. 8 and 9) for the receptionof spring contactfingers 182 heldnormally in contact with the metallic rings of the range-controller,said fingers being secured to the finger-board by bolts or screws 183andbinding posts 181,

central control station, and contact fingers on this range controllerwhich determine the exact limit to which the sight will be moved.

In automatically operating the sight for range on one or more guns, Iuse a key-board K on which most of the partsjshown in Fig. 5 aremounted. These parts include a rangerelay coil 195- provided with anarmature key 198, and a motor relay coil 189 provided with an armaturekey 192. A motor 108" (Figs. 5, 6 and 2) is connected to the sight barof the gun, as shown in Fig. 2. A

reversing switch 118", for changingQthe direction of the current and arheostat 106', for varying the speed of the motor, are employed. Atell-tale light is electrically connected with the armature key 198 ofthe range relay coil 195, so that when a desired range is reached thelight will be extinguished.

When my system is applied to a number of guns, as shown in Fig. 6,'thekeyboard will have the necessary number of range relay coils 195 andarmature keys to accord with the number of rings in the range controller165 (Fig. 7), onemotorrelay coil and armature key for each gun sight tobe set, a

double pole, double throw reversing switch 113" and a rheostat 106, atell-tale light 185 being electrically connected with each armature key198. Each sight is provided with a. motor 108", which is electricallyconnected with and controlled by a motor relay coil 189 and armature key192.

The circuits used in setting for range as applied to one gun, as shownin Fig. 5 are as follows: The circuit is from the positive conductor 184at the key-board K, through lamp 185 to junction 186, from whence itpasses to the range controller 165 on the sight, over conductor 187through the range controller where contact is made by the selectedfinger in the finger-board 179, (the illumination of the lamp showingthat contact has been made); the current passes through therangecontroller to the negative finger 166 in contact with the negativering 167 (Figs. 5, 6

and 7 )5 thence over eonductor190 to motor nseam 189 referred to, thisbeing the first of five interconnected circuits. The second and thirdmultiple circuits are inter-dependent ;as follows: The second circuit isthrough the range relay coil 195,-when contacts 196 and 197 are closed,and also motor relaykey 192,

when the path is from the positive side of the line through contacts191, key 192 and conductor 193 to. junction 194. From 194 the circuit isover conductor 194 to contacts- 196 and 197 to the range relay key 198to the core of (301i 195, thence through said coil 195'and overconductor 196 to the negative side of the line. This will give thecurrent necessary to magnetize the core of 195 to retain range relay key198 depressed until the sight has moved to the required point, and motorrelay key 192 has been released as hereinafter described. It will beseen that when these two keys 192 and 198 are de-,

pressed another or third circuit is established, as already described,to the range relay key 198, then over conductor 187 to the rangecontroller by way of contact finger 182, to negative ring 167 andcontact finger-166 to conductor 190. From this conductor the circuit isthrough coil 189 and conductor 189 to the negative side of the line,thus supplying current to retain the motor relay key 192 depressed aslong as the contact finger 182 makes contact with the ring on the rangecontroller. It will be seen that the currents in these two coils aredepefid'ent on each other, the closing of the armature contacts of onecompleting the circuit'through the other. The fourth and fifth multiplecircuits comprise the circuit of the armature of the motor 108" andthecircuit of -the field 198 thereof.

The instant the armature key of a motor relay coil is closed, the motorstarts, the direction depending upon the position of the double-pole,double throw switch 113 {the current from the main line 184 passes tothe contacts 191, to armature key 192, over conductor 193 to unction194, where the current divides, one part going as already described, theother passing over conductor 199; through armature of mot-or 108", andthence over conductor200 to the negative-side of the line. A' part or"the current passes over conductor 199 to junction 116" and conductor201; through double pole, double throw switch 113"; over eitherconductor 202 or 202; thence through field 198, and back over theopposite conductor 202 or 202; through double pole, double throw switch113"; over conductor 203 and through rheostat 106 to the negative sideof the line. Vhen the sights of several guns are to be controlled Iprovide each sight with a range controller 165, each ontrollerbeingmountedon the usual range dial shaft therefor, and

each operated by an electric motor, as shown in Fig. 6;

The tell-tale lights are of very high resistance, so that a very smallamount of current is used, as while their circuits are ,in

series with the coils 189 of the motor keys 192, there will not besuflicient energy in said coils 189 to hold the keys 192 closed. When acircuit is open at a range controller, the tell-tale light of theparticular circuit is in-' stantly' extinguished, but tell-tale lightsof the circuits which remain closed will remain lighted, hence theoperator will know -which circuits are in readiness for the next 3operation. A smallrheostat 106 is provided in the motor field circuitfor controlling the speed of the motors.

In operation the range relay key 195 for the desired range is depressedbut no cir- S cuit is established until one or more of the motor keys192 is depressed; when this motor key 192 is depressed its motorinstantly starts running in either direction, according to the positionin which the reversing switch 113 is thrown. With both keys 192 and 195closed, a circuit is established which retains both keys closed untilthe motor raises or lowers the sights to the desired point or limit andas the range controller is mounted on the shaft of the range dial now inuse and moving synchronously with it, it will be seen that when thedesired range is reached the contact finger of the range sought will runon the insulation 1 at that ,point of the range controller 165, openingthe circuit through the commonnegative conductor 190 of the sight orsights being used, releasing the motor re lay key 192, opening contacts191 and stop 1 ping the =motor, and also cutting-out the tell-tale lightof the range obtained.

As the circuits are the same for all the sights, it will only benecessary to trace the circuit of one sight, for example the, sight ofgun No. 4, for one change of rangef Such circuit is as follows:Referring to Fig. 6, it is to be assumed that'the conductors 105, fromany suitable generator (not shown) are connected by a main switch 188with the conductors 184 and; 105". The current flows from positive line184 over said conductor to each motor relay key 192 in parallel. Ifmotor relay key 192 of the sight of gun No. 4 be depressed, (range relaykey 198 being first depressed) the current will flow through said key192 overconductors 193 and 194 to the proper range relay coil 195;through said coil and back over conductor 196 to the negative side of.the line 105", magnetizing coil 195 and retaining key 198 depressed.Another circuit is formed when' range relay keV 198 is depressed, motorrelay key 192 also being depressed, it being from-"positive line 184, to

motor relay key 192, as before stated, thence over conductor 193 and 194to the contacts I (196 and 197, Fig. 5) of range relay coil line servinto retain motor rela key 192 depressed. The motor circuit is as follows:The field circuit is directly across the line when any particular motorrelay key 192 is depressed, the current passing from positive line 184'to motor relay key 192 of gun sight No. 1, over conductors 193 and'201to the double pole, double throw switch 113", over, conductor 202 tomotor field 198' of the motor 108" of gun sight No. 4 back overconductor 202 to switch 113, over conductor 208 to rheostat 106, and tothe negative side of the -line 105". means justdescribed, armaturecurrent is also established through said key 192, thence over conductor199 to the armature of the motor 108" and back over conductor 200 to thecommon negative line 105".

As a result of establishing the motor circuii, the motor will run,rotating the range controller 165 of gun sight No. 4 as heretoforestated, until the circuit is broken by the contact finger 182 reachingone of the insulations 168 indicating the selected or ascertained range.When this occurs, the motor relay coil 189 will be deenergized,resulting in the release of the motor relay key 192 opening the circuitat contacts 191, thusdisconnecting all the devices from the positiveside of the supply circuit 184. This opens both field armature circuitsof-the motor 108 and causes it to stop, and also opens the circuitthrough the range relay .jcoil 195,- releasing its armature 198. It willfurther be seen that if vmore than one of 'the motor relay keys 192 havebeen depressed, then if one is released, it will stop its motor but willnot cause the range relay key to be released until all the motor relaykeys 192 have been released, thus causing each sight to move to itsselected reading independent of any or all the others. Itwill be seenthat the motor 108" will act whenever, and just as long as, the motorrelay key 192 is depressed, so it is important that key 195 be closedbefore key 192, and thatthe operator shall remove his finger as quicklyas possible from key 192v I will now describe the method oftransmittingthe range and the operation of the range controller 165. andthe parts or devices and connections which coiiperate therewith,starting with the assumption that the target is 12000 yards distant:First the reversln'g switch 113" (Figs. 5 and 6) is set to cause themotor 108 to actuate the sight By the mechanism in the proper direction.Then the proper range key 198 is depressed to close the circuit throughthe proper contacts 196, 197, but nothing occurs until the proper orcorresponding key 192 {is depressed to close the circuit throughcontacts 191. The motor 108 no'w'rotates. the controller 165 untilill".proper insulating area 168 arrives under the contact finger 182 to breakthe circuit through conductor 190,v thus releasing key 192, resulting instopping the motor with the range set at 12000 yards. If, for instance,the range is to be 12500 yards, the operator will simultaneously depresstwo keys 198, one for 12000 yards and the other for 500 yards. Movementof the controller 165 will continue until stopped at 12500 yardsbecause, when two or more keys 198 are depressed, they all remain downso long as any current at all is flowing through the circuit whichincludes the contacts 191. All contact fingers 182 of the circuits ofthe keys depressed must be reached by insula- 108 to actuate'the sightmechanism in the reverse direction from that just described.

Now, the proper key 198 for 500 yard range is depressed, and the sameoperation as above described in connection with the 12000 yard rangeoccurs, the controller 165 moving backwardly.

I will now explain the reason for providing the controller 165 with twoseries of al ternating conducting and insulating areas for each of theshort ranges as indicated in 7:-If at any time the controller 165 hasstopped with both of two fingers 182 which had been used as abovedescribed now bearingon' insulating areas 168, and it is desired to makea step in either directionof 1000 yards or less, the operator then-usesthe duplicate key 198 for the second or duplicate short range. In otherwords, suppose it is desired to step the cont-rolleran advance of 500yards, it being understood that there are two contact fingers 182 foreach of the short range series, one of said fingers will be resting onan insulating area and the operator will depress the key 198 oi thecircuit which includes the other finger 182 that: is necessarily at thistime bearing on a conducting area. The telltale liglits 185 inform theoperator which of the duplicate keys 198 to depress. Incase of areversal, the operator momentarily holds down the key 198 of the circuitwhich includes the finger 182 that is hearing on an insulating areauntil that area. has passed, and the adjacent or following conducting'area arrives under said finger; He can then immediately remove hispressure from said key 198 which will then remain in depressed position,and the above described operation will follow.

For azimuth or right and left deflection, I provide each sight mechanismwith a speciallyconstructed azimuth drum 102 in addition to the usualazimuth drum 100 now in use, but it will be understood that the drum 100is not essential to the operation of my system, as my drum 102 isgraduated so as'to show the deflection of the sights to the right orleft, as hereinafter explained.

By referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the drum lOO is rotatablymounted on a shaft 113, which is supported upon the rear end of thesight bar 99, said drum being rotated by the hand wheel 101, which alsorotates my drum 102 as it is mounted on a shaft 112 which is connectedto and forms an extension of the shaft 113 on which drum 100 is' mountedas shown at 114, Fig. 1. Thus it will be seen that both drums will havea vertical up and down movement as the sight bar is raised or lowered.The connection between shaft 113 and its extension shaft 112 consists ofa pinion 123 rigidly mounted on the upper end of shaft 113 and having athreaded socket 114 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lower endof extension shaft 112 being screwed into said socket. The azimuth drum100 is provided with the usual pointer 108 carried by a fixed bracket107, so that as said drum is moved up or down bythe elevation ordepression of the sight bar 99 the change in range will be indicated bythe pointer 108. Right and" left deflection is accomplished by the usual.meehanism, consisting of the hand wheel 101 (Figs. 1 and 2) mounted ontheshaft 121, which is provided with a worm 121 in mesh with the usualworm wheel (not shown) mounted on the shaft 113. The:

either direction, will cause the sight bar to.

be deflected to the right or left.

, As above stated,the drum 102, owing to its graduation, shows thedeflection to the right or left. This is due to the interengagement ofrack bar 122 with the pinion 123 of drum shafts 112, 113. The drum 102has itsexterior surface provided with strips 103 (Fig. 3) of insulation,between which are metal conductors 104, and at its bottom ashortcircuiting band 138, and mounted on the upper end of a bar 105(Fig. 1) is a contact 106 which is suitably insulated and is adapted tomake electrical contact with the conductors 104, said bar beingsupported by. the bracket 107. The drum 102 is provided with a, centralor zero strip 109, and the insulating strips 103 run convergingly frombottom to top to correspond with the -104, as said drum revolves.

from 2 to 90, as shown in Fig. 3. When .making the first calculationsfor the proper setting of the sight for deflection, allowance is madefor a given windage and speed of the ship or target, at zero or pointblank range. As this, for Well understood reasons, varies withvariations of the range (the distance that the projectile is to travel),

and as the range and deflection variations" do not relatively change ata constant rate, the graduations represented by the strips 103, 104,diverge at rate to correspond with these changes. This necessitates themaintaining of contact 106 with the proper strip 104 of the drum as therange changes, as hereinafter described. If contact 106 is maintained incontact with the selected strip 103, the proper deflection for thedifferent ranges will be maintained. It will be noted that the drum 102is supported on the sight bar and moves up and down with it but that thepoint 106, being fixed to another part of the sight mechanism does notmove vertically with the drum and so tends to travel over its surfacewith any change of 'form, the relationship of contacts 111 and 106,instead 013 being as indicated in Fig. 1, will be one directly above theother as shown in Fig. 3. An electric motor is 'employed to drive theshaft 112 on'which the drum 102 is mounted, and as said drum is revolvedand the sight bar elevated, the continued revolution or upward movementof the drum 102 will cause a. change in the position of the contactpoint 106 relatively to the drum, but not of the contact points 111.

The driving mechanism which connects the motor with the drum 102,consists of a worm 112 (Figs. 1 and 2) on the motor shaft, meshing witha gear wheel 113' on a shaft 114 journaled. -in suitable supports 115,116 and 117 projecting from the sight bar. The shaft 114' is providedwith a worm 118 meshing with a gear wheel 119 on an extension 120 of theshaft 121 carrying the hand wheel 101 formerly employed to operate thedrum 100, as shown in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that in practice,if'the shaft 121 is to be rotated by hand as well as by power, it willbe necessary to provide a suitable clutch to disengage some members,

such as the worm 118 from worm wheel 119,

in order to enable hand operation to be per-' thedrum-102 through themedium of worm "mounted on the shaft.l13.

121 and the usual worm wheel (not shown} The elevation of the sight barwill move said drum upward and when. it is has moved upward a suilibring the contact 106 upon cient distance to aninsulated strip 103 themotor will stop.

' The. particular strip 103 with which it is provided with clips 129.upon its underside,

' ing in a binding screw 131,

. being insulated complished by the operation of keys 127,

.cuits, each with an armature. 127 operated as a key.

' wit an electric motor desired the contact 106 shall maintainengagementis firstselected by means of contact points 111, andcooperatingcircuits, as particular hereinafter described. Such strip 103corresponds'with' the desireddegree of deflection transmitted-from theconning tower or other control station.

Referring to Fig. 3 wlii h r presents diagrammatically the. operationofthe azimuth drum 102, the'reference characters 124, 125 and 126indicatejrespectively'three switch relays of a ke'y-board'for switch nybeingprovided Located above the' armature keys of. the

switch relays-124 and 125., is a'connecting strip 128 of suitableinsulatingmaterial,

cross connected by copper conductors. 130,

the outer end of one outer conductor terminating in a bindingscrewilll,and the outer.

end of the other-outer conductor terminatthe clips 129 being adapted tobe short circuited bygcli'ps 132 upon the upper side of the armaturekeys 127, when said armature keys are're leased from contactposition,the clips 132 The key board includes a double pole, dou

ble throw switch 136, and the azimuth seti understood thatthe coil'gized .as' soon-as the contact point 106 makes tin mechanism of eachsight is provided 115, all motors being in electrical communication witheach other, Azimuth or right and leftfdefiectiOnis-ac- 127, alternately.I

The current of the motor circuitis from {the positive line when eitherof the'armature armaturecui'rent passing over the-conductor I pressedbefore stated.

operating thecir- .c'urrentpasses'over conductors 154 and 155 .l to'coil; '126, through from their armature keys. 'through a conductortif/ely to the made by the contact 137 through the armature of motor115,'and over conductor 139 to the negative side of the line. Thereversible field current, which is taken 01f from conductor 134 at screw135, flows through thedouble pole, double throw switch blade .136 andover cross-connecting conductor 141 to the but ton 142, over conductor143 to field 204 of motor 115, then over conductor 144 to button 145 onthe double polo, double throw switch through switch bladeil46; and overconductor 147 to the negative side of the line, the double 'pole, doublethrow switch "being cross-connected to cause field reversal.

The third circuit, which is formed when 3 either of the armature keys..127 is depressed,

.is through the coils 124 or 125; for exam ple, if armature key 127 ofoil 124 is dethe current enters the armature key at 148, by wayofcontact 133, and passes through the armature key to shaft 133, as Fromsaid shaft the current passes over a short conductor 1.49 to coil 125,andover conductor 150 to contact point 111, thencethrough a contactstrip of -drum' 102' and its'short-circuiting band 138 to common contactpoint 111, and over conductor 152 to the negative side of the line, sothat when an armature key is depressed, it will remain dowfi--untiloneof the contact points 111 runs onto an insulating strip 103, when thecircuit will be opened. and the armature keyf released." This opensallcircuits of this ar mature key, and oflcourse" thev 1notor' 11.5' sto sactingh The keys127 are alternately operated until the. desired degreeof deflec 'tion is obtained The fourth-circuit is from the positive.sideflof'tlie flineover conductor 153 to the screwj-131on the-crossconnecting strip 128, thence overlconductois 130 which short-cir= cuit'theclips 129 when engaged by blade.

From conductors 130 the said coil and-over .cond'uctor $156 to.contact'v point 106, thence 104 ofthe'drum 102 to common contact 111'.and over conductor 152 to thenegative side of -the line, it being 126becomes ener- 1 I contact with the conductor of the drum 102. The objectof; the'last" described circuit and the contact 106 and coil-126, is toJnaintain the desired (16l'l80t101b when therangeis changed, it beingunderstood that the con- {tact 106 is-to automatically, compensate forrange changes, hence the. placing of the short circuitin clips 129 overthe two keys .127, so that whenthe keys 127 are not o'perated and-achange in range is given, contact 106 will be in a differentpositionreladrufgn 102 and if contact'is 1.06 "with a conductor 104 of sa-iddrum 102 the circuit will be cut 1% in through coil 126, the motor willthen be the conductors 104, and breaks the circuit.

In other words the last described circuit corrects deflection while therange is being changed, during which operation the drum 102 will have alongitudinal movement as the sight bar is raised or lowered. If contact106 is in contact with ,one of the conducting strips 104 a circuit willbe established through coil 126, if both keys 127 are in their raisedpositions with the short-circuiting clips 132 between the clips 129.When coil 126 is energized it.:closes a circuit from the motor 115, thecurrent goingfrom the positive side of the line to the con tact of relay126, armature of the relay, mo

tor 115 and back to the negative side of the line over conductor 139.The field 204 of the motor 115 being continuously energized, the motorwill begin running, causing the drum 102 to be revolved a slightdistance, suflicient to carry contact 106 off of the con ductor 104,with which it has been in contact, whereby the circuit of relay 126 willbe broken, allowing its armature to rise, breaking its circuit of motor115 and thereby preventing further rotation of the drum 102 and thedeflection of the sight bar. It is to be understood that as shown inFig.

, 3, the contact 106 corrects the azimuth drum only when the range ischanged in a single directlon. In order that sa1d contact may be correctfor changes in range in the' op posite direction it is necessary, tofirst reverse the switch 136.

It will be understood that theright and left deflection movements willbe accomplished at all sights in parallel, simultaneously, as all motorsare in electrical connection with each other by means of the '-a gun, ofmeansjor electricallymovingthe deflection of said sights, and electricalconnections between the motors, drums and keyboard.

2. In a limit system of gun control, the combination with the sight of agun, an azimuth drum connected with said gun sight, said drum havingalternating insulating and conducting areas corresponding with the de-"sired settings, an electric motor forsaid gun, a distant keyboard forelectrically setting the deflection of said sight, and electricalconnections between said motor, drum and keyboard. p

3. The combination with the sight bar of 86 sight bar, said meansincluding a range con; Holler-comprising a nuniber'of isola'tedjai'eas.representing different range units,'.and aplw. rality of keys located ata distant point for transmitting the range to said controller.

4. The combination with the sight bar of a gun, of means forelectrically moving the sight bar, said means including a rangecontroller comprising a number of isolated areas representing differentrange units, means for electrically operating said range controller froma distant point, and means whereby said controller may be stopped-at apoint corresponding to the desired range.

5. The combination with the sight bar of 95 a gun, of means forelectrically, moving the sight bar, said means including a rangecontroller comprising a number of-isolated areas representing differentrange units, a range relay key"in electric connection with thecontroller, an electric motor for operatpositive and return conductorsleading -the desired settings ofthe'sight bar, connecfrom the motors sothat each circuit formed at .any sight will be simultaneously formed ateach of the other sights, the motor armature circuits being over thepositive conductor 13?, (leading from conductor 137) and back overreturn conductor 139 leading from conductors 139. The reversible fieldcircuit is over conductor 143 (a continuation of conductor 143) to theother sight and back over conductor 144, (a continuation of conductor144.)

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a limit system of gun control, the combination with the sights ofa plurality of guns, an azimuth drum connected with each of the gunsights, each of said drums having alternating insulating and conductingareas corresponding with the desired setting, an electric motor for eachdrum, electrical connections between the motors, a distant key-board forelectrically-setting the tions whereby said member and the sight barmove synchronously, a motor for imparting 119 continuous movement toboth the sight bar and. rotary mem'berwhen in operation, and electricalconnections controlled through the make and break portions of saidrotary member for determiningthe limit of movei) ment imparted by saidmotor.

7. Apparatus of the character described comprising a. gun having a sightmovably mounted relatively to the gun, a motor for 7 moving the sight,said motor having operat- 12c ing connections with the sight whereby thesight is moved continuously to any degree without interruption duringthe operation of the motor, and selective means controllable from adistant point for. starting the op- 225 eration of-the motor andprescribing the op,- eration of'the motor and movement of the sight toan exact predetermined limit.

8. Apparatus of the character described comprising a gun having a sightmounted 13a to move relatively to the in either one of two directions,motors for moving the sight, said motors having operating connec-.

tions with the sight whereby one of the movements of said sight may beeffected, without interruption, to a selected degree, and meanscontrollable from a distant point for starting the operation of themotor and prescribing the operation thereof and the movement of thesight to an exact predetermined limit in either one of said two directions of movement.

9. In asystem of gun-control, the combination with a un of a sightmounted to move relatively to the gun in either one of two directionsfor the range and deflection, a range controller and a deflectioncontroller, and means whereby movement of one which would necessitate anadjustment of the other will result in automatically efiecting thatadjustment.

10. In a system of gun-control, the combination with the sight barcf agun, of a rotary member having a series ofalternating make and breakportions, connections whereby said member and the sight bar movesynchronously, a motor for imparting continuous movement to both thesight bar and rotary member when in operation, a series of selective,manually-controlled members whereby a predetermined limit of movement ofthe sight bar can be obtained, and electrical connections controlledthrough the make and break portions of said rotary member fordetermining the limit of movement imparted by said motor.

11. In a system of gun-control, the combination with the sight bar' of agun, of a rotary member having a series of alternating make and breakportions corresponding with the desired settings of the sight bar,connections whereby said member and the sight bar move synchronously, amotor for imparting continuous movement to both the sight bar and rotarymember when in operation, electrical connections controlled through themake and break portions of said rotary member for determining the limltof movement imparted by said motor, and an indicator for showing whenthe desired limit of movecombination the gun-sight thereof, an azimuthdrum composed of alternate metal and insulated strips, theinsulatedstrips representing degrees of deflection, an electric motorfor revolving the drum in either direction, control-points arranged tocontact with the insulation strips on the drum, a keyboard, andelectrical connections between the drum and key-board, whereby right orleft deflection may be imparted to the sight bar.

14. In a system of gun-control the combination with the sights of aplurality of guns, of an azimuth drum connected with the sight of eachgun, each of said drums having alternating insulating and conductingareas corresponding with the desired settings, an electric motor foreach drum, electrical connections between the drums, and a distantkeyboard for electrically transmitting the deflection to any one or anynumber of said sights.

15. A system of gun-control comprising a plurality of guns, each havinga sight bar, a range-controller for each gun, each. rangecontrollerbeing provided with segments or limits representing range units,suitable electrical connections with each range-controller, an electricmotor for operating each controller, and a key-board whereby the rangemay be electrically transmitted to each controller.

Oopteso! this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressingthe Genmisstener at Bataan Washington, at, Q.

